Let them eat cake !

Qu'ils mangent de la brioche !
This was the original phrase Marie-Antoinette supposed to have said when the French populace had no bread to eat ...

Yesterday my BHF (Best Hermès Friend) H. and I got together for a sushi lunch and we talked about lending some of our nicer stuff out to 'friends'..She then told me her story about someone who had borrowed a very expensive dress and ruined it due to a 'champagne shower'...
H. had to go almost on her knees to get her to go to the drycleaners...Unbelievable and a very expensive lesson. I then told her this advice that I've gotten from a quote Karl Lagerfeld learned me...

NEVER LEND TO THE POOR !
When I said this to her I immediately felt as fierce as Marie-Antoinette - I'm not suffering from madness caused by eating to much cupcakes, oh no ! It's just a line out of the context from Mr Lagerfeld himself (but oh so true)

Here's how the story went :

I lent a friend my vintage 1950s Dior gown to wear to an important gala. I don't know what she did at the party, but my dress is trashed. She hasn't offered a dime for my $10.000 frock. What should I do ?

Answer from the maestro himself :

If a dress is too much for your friend to afford, don't let her borrow it. NEVER LEND TO THE POOR!
You must act like a curator at a museum-lending vintage should be avoided at all costs.

Now, I'm not a greedy or selfish girl, but you will always see that just this dress or bag you have lent to your 'friend' will be ruined...
It's just not worth it - just be honest about it to the person who's asking you this favour and you don't like the friendship to fall apart when something bad happens to the dress or bag.
If he/she doesn't understand this, they're just not worth the friendship ; they only want you for your luxury and nothing else ...